As a busy dad with three kids under five, my most used baby item was our trusty double stroller. I could plop the toddler in the back, the baby in the front – and chase the oldest, just barely out of toddler stage herself – all over the store. She was too old to sit in the back toddler seat, and too independent and squirmy for it anyway.

She did, however, take frequent breaks to slip beneath my arms and try to ride on the back basket – which invariably overbalanced the stroller and made it unsafe at any speed. That was ten years ago – and I dreamed of a stroller that would accommodate my three little treasures in a safe, comfortable and age appropriate way. Enter the Baby Trend sit and stand strollers.

Sit and stand strollers hit the store shelves just about the time that my youngest was striking out on his own – when I no longer needed one. These strollers, pioneered by Baby Trend, who still make the most popular models, feature a regular stroller seat/bed for an infant or toddler, and a standing platform behind it where an older child can hop on and ride when their little legs need a break from trying to keep up. Most models of sit and stand strollers are designed with safety belts and hand-hold bars for the older child to make sure that they’ll ride safely.

Innovations to the sit and stand stroller design include a drop down rear-facing seat so your older child can ride in comfort if they want, or stand and look out over the stroller canopy at the road ahead. Baby Trend added stadium seating to its traditional sit and stand stroller design a few years after its introduction, setting the rear seat several inches higher than the front to give the older child clearance to see ahead without standing.

The best of the best, though, and the sit and stand stroller I would have traveled to Timbuktu (with kids in tow) to buy was Baby Trend’s Triple Sit and Stand stroller, with two front facing seats for twins or younger children and one standing platform with fold down seat for a toddler who just can’t keep up with adult legs. It’s no longer made, but you can still find them on eBay or at tag sales.

Sit and stand strollers are one of those innovative ideas that make such perfect sense you can’t help wondering why they haven’t ALWAYS been available. If you’re expecting and have a child up to five or six years old already, a sit and stand stroller (list price new from $149.99) is one of the best investments you can make.

Did you know that a crib mattress is one of major purchases that parents make for their comfort and well being of their baby?  So you need to purchase the best quality mattress that you can afford from the range of crib mattresses that are available.

The comfort and well-being of your baby is paramount so it is important that the crib mattress that they will spend the majority of their time on is both comfortable and durable. If your baby feels comfortable on their crib mattress they will sleep sounder, be less restless and you will have a happier baby.

Funnily enough parents may spend weeks agonizing over what color or pattern bedding to choose but tend to disregard the importance in choosing the right crib mattress.

There are two main types of crib mattresses that you can choose from – foam and innerspring or coil mattresses. If you are considering purchasing a foam mattress look for a heavy weight, high density crib mattress as this will result in a firmer mattress.  Also check the resilience; this is the ability of the mattress to spring back into shape.

Although a coil crib mattress with a high coil count of 150 coils or more is the better option, it is the amount of steel in the border rods which circle the top and bottom of the mattress and along the edges of the mattress which provide the extra support needed for active toddlers. Border rods in crib mattresses not only provide support but also allow for better weight distribution over the mattresses surface. This reduces mattress sagging.  Crib mattresses with border rods are far better quality but not necessarily more expensive.

Just remember to spend as much time with choosing your crib mattress as you do with all your other baby purchases

Convertible baby cribs generally refer to cribs that convert into daybeds, playpens or full beds. There are a number of styles and colors available, so you are sure to find a style that suits your needs. These cribs are a great investment as they can accommodate your child until they are ready to leave the nest.

Convertible cribs are becoming a popular choice for many parents, as they save money by only having to purchase one item which will last many years as convertible cribs convert to a toddler bed and some models convert to a full size bed.  This type of baby crib can be more expensive initially but in the long term you will save money not having to buy another bed when your baby outgrows the crib.

A convertible crib is designed to provide a safe sleeping area for your child and during the day you can convert the crib into a playpen so that your baby has a safe place to play, simply add some toys for your child to play with and you will have the peace of mind knowing that baby is safe and secure.

Purchasing a convertible baby crib means that as your infant becomes a toddler, the crib can be transformed into a day bed or full bed, so they are sleeping in a bed they are familiar with and are more likely to settle down to sleep for the night or afternoon nap.

There are a number of manufacturers of convertible cribs such as Da Vinci,  Angel Line,  Delta Convertible Cribs and many others, so take the time to check out the features that most suit your needs.

You can buy with online with confidence to be sure of quality and a reasonable price.